The Integrated Community Ageing Team (ICAT) team is part of the care group delivering proactive care in Islington and known as the Proactive Frailty and Complex Care Team (PROFACCT). 

ICAT specialises in the assessment and management of frail older people.

The consultant-led, multi-disciplinary team (MDT) includes:

• consultant geriatrician input from Whittington
• a GP with specialist interest in geriatrics
• a GP registrar on a rotational basis
• an FY2 doctor on a rotational basis
• lead nurse and advanced care practitioner specialising in older people 
• nurses specialising in older people
• Physiotherapists specialising in older people
• an occupational therapist specialising in older people 
• pharmacists specialising in older people 
• a pharmacy technician specialising in older people 
• a therapy technician specialising in older people

The team works collaboratively with primary care to carry out a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and to create a care plan that addresses the person's needs, usually in a person's own home. 

If diagnostics are needed, ICAT is able to arrange for the appropriate tests to be carried out at Whittington Hospital. Regular  multi-disciplinary team meetings take place, and all input is documented directly onto EMIS (accessible to GPs by clicking View All Records within consultations). 

Please note: ICAT is not a rapid response service. ICAT aim to carry out a first assessments within a two weeks of referral, or much longer for proactive referrals. At busy times waiting times may increase and will be indicated on our bounce-back email. If you are worried about a patient waiting this long, please call the ICAT consultant hotline for advice. 

ICAT care home

ICAT also provides support and in-reach into the care homes in Islington. Each care home and associated GP practice work in collaboration with a consultant geriatrician, pharmacist and pharmacy technician, who attend monthly MDTs at the care home and will see patients at the home.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

The patient should be identified as likely to benefit from a home-based multi-disciplinary CGA:

• patients aged 65+ will be triaged
• for patients aged under 65 years, the referral needs to be discussed with an ICAT doctor via the hotline 07920 756 995

Frailty is a complex syndrome to define, but commonly presents as one of the following:  

• increasing immobility
• falls
• general functional decline
• worsening confusion
• polypharmacy and issues with medications management
• multiple deteriorating long-term conditions
• recurrent hospital admissions or new incontinence.

A person with any of these problems is likely to benefit from a CGA.

Indicate on the referral form whether you want a Proactive CGA (much longer waiting times for those with no active concerns) or a standard CGA (we aim to see within two weeks). 

Exclusions

• patients who do not have an Islington GP (with the exception of patients living in Islington registered at The157 Medical Practice)
• patients who only need therapy or pharmacy input (consider Islington Locality Therapies for therapy and practice-based pharmacy; the service also offers a therapy-led falls service with pharmacy input)

How to Refer